Super bodies can help children fight off illnesses as they return after the Christmas Break

As children return to schools and nurseries after the Christmas break, common winter illnesses that often start circulating at this time of year are set to rise.

But children’s Super Bodies rather than antibiotics or other medicines, are usually the key to fighting off these illnesses.

Illnesses like coughs, sore throats and earache are extremely common in young children which are most often caused by viral infections which are not affected by antibiotics.

Instead, parent should trust their children’s Super Bodies.

The Super Bodies  campaign  is sharing a guide for parents and carers on the simple things they can do to treat these common ailments at home, as well as helping them to spot the signs of a more serious illness and knowing when and where to go for medical help.

Dr Paul Edmondson-Jones, Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Chief Executive at Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB, said:  “Children are likely to pick up common viruses at this time of year, especially while mixing in school and nursery environments, but they are usually nothing to worry about. Their super bodies get to work, and most children with a normal immune system and up-to-date immunisations will fight off these common illnesses with a little TLC at home.

“The evidence shows that most children actually recover from these ailments in the same amount of time with or without antibiotics, which have no effect on viruses and so don’t actually help to fight off the infection.”

Amin Mitha, Associate Director for Medicines Optimisation at the ICB, added “Antibiotics are no longer routinely used to treat most infections. They are often unlikely to speed up the healing process, they can cause unwanted side effects such as diarrhoea, and your child will usually get better without taking unnecessary medication.

“Overusing antibiotics can also contribute to antibiotic resistance, which means that these medications are becoming less effective at killing off bacteria. This is a very serious threat to the health of our population, but we can all help to fight back by only using antibiotics when they are needed.

“You know your children best, so do seek medical help if you are concerned about their symptoms, or if their bodies need a bit more support because they are immunosuppressed or have other existing medical conditions.”

Parents and carers of young children can find information on treating coughs, earaches and sore throats at home, on the Super Bodies website page, as well as finding a list of more serious signs and symptoms to look out for.

They can find out when they need to stay home, visit their GP, call NHS 111, or when to call 999 or attend A&E.